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Thai Tourism Industry Is Unsure
If Asian Games Will Boost Business

By

Pichayaporn Utumporn Staff Reporter of The Wall Street Journal

Updated Nov. 25, 1998 11:59 p.m. ET

The 13th Asian Games open in Bangkok in less than two weeks -- at the same time tropical Thailand's coolest, most tourist-friendly season begins. Will the games help or hurt the tourist business ailing Thailand needs so badly?

That's hard to answer. People in the local tourism industry say they're still unable to predict how many tourists may stay away from the country, fearing booked-up hotels and traffic jams even worse than...